Entries tagged with: JensenSportag

Onetime Beach Fossils bassist John Pena will release Prominence, his second album as Heavenly Beat, next week (10/15) via Captured Tracks. Much like his first record, with lightly plucked classical guitar, synth steel drums, skittering beats and whispered vocals, Prominence could pass for genuine turn-of-the-millenium Scandinavian indiepop (think Kings of Convenience or The Embassy). The production and arrangements are better this time, however, and make for an enjoyably featherlight listen. I like it a lot. You can stream the LP's single, "Complete," below and listen to the whole album over at EW.

Being based here in Brooklyn, it should come as no surprise that Heavenly Beat (which is a full band, live) will be playing some shows at CMJ. He'll play the Cascine showcase on Thursday (10/17) at Cameo (9:40 PM) which also features Shine 2009, Ejecta, Jensen Sportag, Rush Midnight and North Americans (tickets). They'll also play Friday (10/18) at Fontanas as part of a bill that includes Ice Choir, Cities Aviv, Rush Midnight, Mood Rings, Calvin Love, Glass Gang, Ski Lodge, Ghost Wave, Grand Resort and Bright Future. Those are both pretty well-curated line-ups, and chances are if you like Heavenly Beat you'll have interest in a number of the other bands.

Heavenly Beat will also play a free day show at Spike Hill on October 19 with Dead Leaf Echo, Heliotropes, United Ghosts, and Black Books. And if you want to see them outside of CMJ, HB play Glasslands on October 24 with Color Film and Crush Distance (tickets).

All dates are listed, along with a couple Prominence track streams, below...

CMJ just released the third round of artists playing this year's fest which happens in three weeks (October 16 - 20). Names include Dent May (who we already knew about) Penguin Prison, Toronto's Born Ruffians, Erika Spring, Berlin trio Fenster (who were here in March) Chad Valley, Rush Midnight and more. Full list is at the bottom of this post.

Also on the just-added list are Brooklyn's Savoir Adore who will release their new album, Our Nature, the week of CMJ (10/16 specifically). The band recorded it at the same upstate studio as their 2010 debut, In the Wooded Forest, and are self-releasing this one. If the last album was wide-screen pop, the band have gone CinemaScope with Our Nature. It's dancier, more anthemic and brimming with hooks and just plain bigger sounding. Last year's "Dreamers" single (which opens the new album) is a good indicator of what to expect, and you can watch the video for that below along with a stream of album track "Regalia."

Before CMJ, Savoir Adore will play Knitting Factory on October 9 for an Our Nature record release party with Ghost Beach and Royal Canoe. Tickets for that show are on sale now. Those three bands are touring together immediately after and judging by their schedule, their only open day to play CMJ will be 10/16.

The list of all Savoir Adore dates, the list of third round CMJ artists, that song stream and video are below...